Report: Florida Ranks Low in Civic Engagement

By Mark Lane, Staff Writer

January 23, 2012 12:10 AM

When it comes to civic engagement, the kids aren’t all-right.

And they’re particularly not all-right in Florida.

“We stink,” former U.S. Rep. Lou Frey said last week.

That is a succinct summary of a report released by Frey’s organization, the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government at the University of Central Florida, along with the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida and the National Conference on Citizenship.

The 2011 Florida Civic Health Index focuses on civic involvement by “millennials,” people aged 18-29. By civic involvement, the report means everything from voting to working with neighbors on neighborhood problems.

Read the entire article at The Daytona Beach News-Journal→

Volusia Students First in State to Embark on Civics Program

By Linda Trimble, Education Writer

December 21, 2011 12:15 AM

DELAND — Illiteracy. Poverty. Beach driving.

Those are just a few of the issues some Volusia County teens may tackle in a two-year program to learn about their communities’ challenges and how citizens can help find solutions to them by working with local and state government leaders.

The 55 teens from DeLand, Mainland and Spruce Creek high schools are part of the Florida Civic Leadership Academy. Volusia is the first school district in the state to try out the program offered in partnership with the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government at the University of Central Florida.

Doug Dobson, executive director of the institute named for a former Florida congressman, hopes Volusia will become a model for the rest of the state.

Read the article at The Daytona Beach News-Journal→

A Professional Development Opportunity for Teachers: The Dirksen Congressional Center

Call for Participation: Congress in the Classroom 2012

Deadline: April 15, 2012

Congress in the Classroom is a national, award-winning education program now in its 21st year. Developed and sponsored by The Dirksen Congressional Center, the workshop is dedicated to the exchange of ideas and information on teaching about Congress.

Leon County Schools’ Students Excel in Municipal Brain Bowl

Tallahassee, Leon County- As the end of the first school quarter drew near, four teams of Leon County Schools fourth graders faced off in the Florida League of Cities’ Municipal Brain Bowl. The teams spent weeks studying general city government facts and specific facts related to the City of Tallahassee’s history and operations. In the end, the students from Killearn Lake Elementary earned the title of Brain Bowl Champions, with Roberts Elementary placing second, Astoria Park placing third, J. Michael Conley coming in fourth.

Christy Disinger is Volusia County’s New Teacher of the Year

DAYTONA BEACH — Christy Disinger, who has a knack for making historical characters like Thomas Jefferson come to life through modern phenomena like Facebook, is Volusia County’s new Teacher of the Year.

Cities in the Classroom at Big Truck Day

The City of Satellite Beach and De Laura Middle School are one of 10 pilot projects selected by the Florida League of Cities to educate and connect students to their local city government. The Cities in the Classroom pilot project was funded and developed though a partnership with the Florida League of Cities, and The Florida Joint Center for Citizenship a partnership between The Lou Frey Institute and Bob Graham Center.

Tallahassee Leads Cities Across Florida in Celebrating Florida City Government Week

Florida City Government Week kicked off Monday with Tallahassee Mayor John Marks, President of the Florida League of Cities partnering with Leon County Schools and the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship to celebrate Florida City Government Week (Oct. 18 – 24, 2009). This partnership was formed to increase awareness of teaching civics in the classrooms during Florida City Government Week. Cities across the state celebrated Florida City Government Week in a number of ways.

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Category: Florida Schools